Ruger 10/22 Heavey Barrel Problem

[hardly]

My 10/22 hb has suddenly started shooting everywhere.  At 40 yards, the groups have gone from dime size to 2 to 3 inches or more.  Have tried different types of ammo and two different scopes, same thing.  Have noticed that it shoots better off of a front rest than the bipod.  Yesterday shot over 100 rounds and never got anything that resembled a group.  Barrel is routinely cleaned.  Any suggestions, I am lost.

[palgeno]

Is the action screw tight? Is the V-block holding the barrel to the action loose? Has the crown been nicked up with a cleaning rod ? Do you have lead  or excess oil in the bore? Is the chamber or breech face gunked up with bullet lube? Most of these things are easily checked or remedied. Worst one for me is too much COFFEE!!!!  :shock: Can you tell?  pg

[bigdaddytacp]

My 10/22 hb has suddenly started shooting everywhere.  At 40 yards, the groups have gone from dime size to 2 to 3 inches or more.  Have tried different types of ammo and two different scopes, same thing.  Have noticed that it shoots better off of a front rest than the bipod.  Yesterday shot over 100 rounds and never got anything that resembled a group.  Barrel is routinely cleaned.  Any suggestions, I am lost.

...........I had a similar problem and swapped scopes and all the other things but didn't swap rings....the front ring had a hairline crack that wasn't visible and I checked the base mount screws and was switching to a different mount and ring type and the gun started to shoot small groups again....finally found the bad ring by process of elimination of what was different.....check all the things mentioned...check for anything in the barrel channel and or stuck to the underside of the barrel making a pressure point...this would make a difference in the bipod and rest groups.....check the swivel stud for contact if that is how the bipod attaches to the gun?......have a friend check behind you or with you to avoid overlooking any of the mentioned items....sometimes you look so long and hard you just can't see a small problem......hth..let the board know what you find...might help someone else if theirs starts bad behavior........hth...good luck and good shooting!!

[hardly]

I changed from the mount that came with the gun and Weaver rings to Leupold mounts and rings when I put the last scope on. The scope came off of my Browning 22-250 and was shooting good.

[David Owens]

While I may be new here to the forum I am not new to diagnosing problems with firearms.  Are your groups concentric? or do they seem to be stringing? If so, are the strings running horizontal or vertical.  Have you changed anything at all recently?    When a problem like this happens to me and the fix isn't obvious, I always revert back to the basics.  
Check the rings and base. All screws for tightness.  Is the barrel of your rifle floated?  If not has there been a weather change?  Try a scope of known quality.  Also, is the ammo that you have been shooting the same lot?  This can truly effect your accuracy.  Check the action screw for correct torque.  My Shilen Barreled 10/22 likes to have a medium torque of around 15-20 inch pounds on it to shoot.  When I tweak it just right it will consistently amaze me.  Small group to date is a 5-shot, 50 yard group shot with an older lot of Fiocchi V-340.  Center to Center .126".
                                                                                Good Luck
                                                                              [/b]

[hardly]

Turns out, the crown was damaged.  My gunsmith found the problem, recrowned it and it is shooting tight groups again.

[jlk]

I have found that the majority of people carry their rifle in their vehicle, they put the muzzle in the floorboard. Bad idea, if there is any gravel or rock there and you put your muzzle on it, it will be damaged. I always put it in the seat or muzzle up.